Arthur's Seat and the Salisbury Crags

Holyrood Park

from Edinburgh, Scotland

ABOVE: The summit of Arthur's Seat, 254 meters or 832 feet above sea level. (The Firth of Forth is in the background.) INSET BELOW: Salisbury Crags and Arthur's Seat from the city center.

Arthur's Seat and the Salisbury Crags are the two most prominent features of Holyrood Park, a 650-acre patch of rugged Scottish landscape along the eastern edge of the city center. From the Scottish Parliament or the Palace of Holyroodhouse, you can step into a former royal hunting ground that resembles the Highlands or the Shetland Islands. And if you've brought a sturdy pair of shoes, you can climb to the summit of an extinct volcano that offers 360-degree views of Edinburgh, the Lothians, and the Firth of Forth.

In this article, I'll tell you how to reach the elevated path along Salisbury Crags and the top of Arthur's Seat. The first step is to find a good map, which I'll recommend on the next page. (You don't absolutely need a map, but you'll find one helpful since the walking paths in Holyrood Park aren't marked.)

Allow 1½ to 2 hours for the full tour, or less if you're a fast walker with little patience for dawdling.

Next page: Arthur's Seat and Holyrood Park Map

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Inset photo: Copyright © Stephen Martin.

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